Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management - Executive Education

Advanced Master in Financial Markets

Term 0

(no credits - available throughout the year)

Training in:

• Data Analysis in Excel via Data Camp
• VBA via Data Camp
• Python via Data Camp

Optional in-person courses in Excel and VBA may be arranged during the first term of the program if there are sufficient requests.

Term 1

September – November (6 weeks courses, 2 weeks exams)

• Corporate Finance and Valuation
• Overview of Financial Markets and Regulation
• Corporate Reporting
• European Financial Integration and Banking Regulation - I
• Sustainable Finance

Term 2

November – January (6 weeks courses, 2 weeks exams)

• Investment Banking
• European Financial Integration and Banking Regulation - II
• Portfolio and Investments
• Financial Infrastructures
• Risk and Risk Management in Financial Institutions

Term 3

January - March (6 weeks courses, 2 weeks exams)

• Alternative Investment I (Hedge Funds)
• The Banking Environment
• ALM, Fair Values and Balance Sheet Optimisation
• M&A Valuation - Case Study
• Data Science for Business OR Machine Learning & AI

Term 4

April - May (6 weeks courses, 2 weeks exams)

• Alternative Investment II (Private Equity)
• Asset Pricing Practice
• ECB, Stress Tests, and Bank Internal Models
• Banking Analysis - Practice
• Insurance Markets

Term 5

June - August

• Internship
• Participants will perform a 3-month internship in a leading financial institution.
  • Participants will perform a 3-month internship in a leading financial institution.

TOP 50 QS World University Rankings - Master in Finance

Your benefits

• Secure attractive jobs in the financial sector and boost your career growth.
• Acquire the competencies and skill set that top financial firms are expecting from their young professionals thanks to your deep understanding of how financial markets work in practice, the connections between theory and practice of the financial markets, and your mastery of sophisticated financial techniques.
• Get familiar with sustainability and sustainable finance, what it is and why it matters for corporates and financial markets and services players, as the sustainability imperative is integrated with all courses.
  • Acquire the competencies and skill set that top financial firms are expecting from their young professionals thanks to your deep understanding of how financial markets work in practice, the connections between theory and practice of the financial markets, and your mastery of sophisticated financial techniques.
  • Get familiar with sustainability and sustainable finance, what it is and why it matters for corporates and financial markets and services players, as the sustainability imperative is integrated with all courses.
• The 3-month internship program
• Get the most out of the 3-month internship, which the program helps you find, and which is a springboard to find job opportunities in leading banks and investment banks, asset managers, private equity firms, consulting firms, regulators, commodity trading firms, and other institutions, both in Belgium and abroad.
  • Get the most out of the 3-month internship, which the program helps you find, and which is a springboard to find job opportunities in leading banks and investment banks, asset managers, private equity firms, consulting firms, regulators, commodity trading firms, and other institutions, both in Belgium and abroad.
• Job Placement Ratio: over 80% even before graduation
• Our career service will help you in building your career thanks to our strong connection with the business sector and to our dynamic team who will accompany you into the professional world. From self-assessment to networking opportunities, our team assists you to realise your full potential. Through a wide range of seminars, coaching sessions, workshops, events, and other resources, we help you to discover the career path best suited to your personal fulfillment.
• 80% of our students find a job even before graduation and over 90% within three months from the completion of the program!
  • Our career service will help you in building your career thanks to our strong connection with the business sector and to our dynamic team who will accompany you into the professional world. From self-assessment to networking opportunities, our team assists you to realise your full potential. Through a wide range of seminars, coaching sessions, workshops, events, and other resources, we help you to discover the career path best suited to your personal fulfillment.
  • 80% of our students find a job even before graduation and over 90% within three months from the completion of the program!
• Student Trip experience
• The program highlights the importance of getting practical knowledge and learning, connections, and inspiration relating to financial markets and services. This is why we offer you the possibility to participate in two optional study trips in Luxembourg and in London, involving masterclasses and networking events hosted by market players such as banks, asset managers, stock exchanges and fintech accelerators, complementary with the program credited lectures.
  • The program highlights the importance of getting practical knowledge and learning, connections, and inspiration relating to financial markets and services. This is why we offer you the possibility to participate in two optional study trips in Luxembourg and in London, involving masterclasses and networking events hosted by market players such as banks, asset managers, stock exchanges and fintech accelerators, complementary with the program credited lectures.
• Small classes, big experience
• Classes are limited to manageable-sized and coherent cohorts (about 30 students), ensuring maximum participation and easy access to the faculty and the advanced master's academic or administration team.
  • Classes are limited to manageable-sized and coherent cohorts (about 30 students), ensuring maximum participation and easy access to the faculty and the advanced master's academic or administration team.
• The Solvay interactive teaching methodology: constantly challenge yourself
• Experience our teaching methods which are very hands-on and participant-centered. Courses are mainly structured into real case studies, seminars, simulations, presentations, group work, company visits, and on-the-job learning.
  • Experience our teaching methods which are very hands-on and participant-centered. Courses are mainly structured into real case studies, seminars, simulations, presentations, group work, company visits, and on-the-job learning.
• The faculty: learn from an exceptional cast of academics and practitioners
• The faculty comprises Solvay and ULB professors bringing in their theoretical insight and the latest research expertise from their respective fields, as well as top-level practitioners (CEOs, CFOs, Chief Risk Officers, Head of Private Banking, Director at the European Commission, and other senior executives from banks, asset managers, hedge funds, private equity, infrastructures, and regulators) driven by a real passion for education bringing in their practical insight and on-the-field experience. Top-of-the-line guests are also invited for additional workshops or sessions.
  • The faculty comprises Solvay and ULB professors bringing in their theoretical insight and the latest research expertise from their respective fields, as well as top-level practitioners (CEOs, CFOs, Chief Risk Officers, Head of Private Banking, Director at the European Commission, and other senior executives from banks, asset managers, hedge funds, private equity, infrastructures, and regulators) driven by a real passion for education bringing in their practical insight and on-the-field experience. Top-of-the-line guests are also invited for additional workshops or sessions.
• Experience diversity & an international learning environment
• Diversity in class in terms of gender, academic background, and culture enhances your student experience. Two-thirds of the participants are from outside Belgium, including from Europe, Asia, or the Americas. The faculty is also very international in nationality or professional background. Benefit from our international faculty, international case studies, the student trip, and the multicultural environment you will be studying in, right at the heart of Europe.
  • Diversity in class in terms of gender, academic background, and culture enhances your student experience. Two-thirds of the participants are from outside Belgium, including from Europe, Asia, or the Americas. The faculty is also very international in nationality or professional background. Benefit from our international faculty, international case studies, the student trip, and the multicultural environment you will be studying in, right at the heart of Europe.
• Join the Solvay Alumni Network
• Become part of one of the largest business networks in Belgium, members of which are actually present in more than 65 countries around the world. Participate in the events organized, expand your network and never stop learning and evolving.
  • Become part of one of the largest business networks in Belgium, members of which are actually present in more than 65 countries around the world. Participate in the events organized, expand your network and never stop learning and evolving.

Who is the program aimed at?

The program in Financial Markets welcomes recent Masters' graduates from all disciplines and professionals who have a deep interest in financial matters - as well as the intellectual curiosity to gain a comprehensive and practical understanding of how financial markets work. The Master's program enables you to link theory and practice and to manage sophisticated financial techniques through interactive classes and real business cases in a multicultural, inspiring environment.

After graduation, an unlimited range of job opportunities will be accessible to you. Graduates of the program have been recruited by a range of firms in Belgium and abroad, including:

• Banks and investment banks: Belfius, BNPP Paribas, Euroclear Bank, KBC, Credit Suisse Zurich, Goldman Sachs Warsaw, ING Amsterdam, ING London, etc.
• Asset managers, private banks, and private equity funds: Blackfin, Blackrock Zurich, Bank of New York Mellon, Candriam, Capital @ Work, DNCA Paris, Kartesia, Landy & Partners London, Lombard Odier, Société Générale Luxembourg, Sofina, etc.
• Insurance companies: Fidea, La Baloise
• Consulting or advisory firms: Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PWC, Baker Tilly, Grant Thornton, Moore Stephens (London), etc.
• Regulatory Agencies: Bank of England, European Central Bank, National Bank of Belgium, Single Resolution Board, etc.
• Industrial Companies: Cargill commodity trading, Exxon Mobil commodity trading, Colruyt Treasury, etc.
• Fintech, Trade Associations, Universities, etc.